Shark Spotters
Watching White Sharks
Sharing the Waves with the King of the Sea
by Cheryl-Samantha Owen
Great white sharks are present in the waters off the Cape of South Africa throughout the year, and anyone who uses the Cape’s Atlantic or False Bay waters may possibly encounter one. Surfers, swimmers, divers, snorkelers, kayakers and any other ocean user should remember that they are in white shark territory and keep abreast with white shark news.
A Shark Spotter (Photo: Morne Hardenberg)
Alison Kock, a white shark researcher with the Save Our Seas Foundation (SOSF), is on the sea before first light and spotting great white sharks before dawn. She is dedicating her life to studying the mysteries behind the great white shark and is providing the only source of scientific information on white shark activity and behaviour patterns in Cape Town. Through her research with SOSF Alison has tagged more than 78 white sharks and identified more than 300 since 2003.
Alison has not only challenged the media and the general public’s perceptions about white sharks by showing that they are not mindless man-hunting predators, but the data she has gathered has proven invaluable in notifying ocean users what great whites are up to. White sharks, it appears, have a seasonal inshore - offshore movement pattern, and this knowledge provides some guideline as to where and where not to be in the water in order to minimize chances of bumping into the animal. Though they swim inshore year round, their concentrations peak here from October to December – exactly when the Cape’s beaches are packed. During the winter they are more preoccupied playing cat and mouse with the young of Seal Island’s seal colony. This seasonal change is not unique to False Bay, nor is it recent in its occurrence; similar behaviour occurs in Gansbaai, Mossel Bay and even in California.
Enter the Shark Spotters. While Alison has identified over 300 individuals, the Cape’s shark spotting heroes have documented 530 shark sightings at 11 beaches around Cape Town since the programme started in 2004. Shark sightings recorded by the shark spotters have consistently shown a seasonal peak in shark sightings from August to March, peaking in the Cape’s mid-summer.
Each shark sighting is recorded and entered into a dedicated scientific database. Information collected includes the location, time and duration of the sighting, and the swimming pattern of the shark. “This information is important because it can be used to identify trends in shark presence and behaviour at popular beaches, which can offer new information that can be used to increase safety for water users through minimizing interactions between sharks and people,” says Alison Kock.
Analysis of the shark spotter’s data from the two beaches with the highest number of shark sightings, Muizenburg and Fish Hoek, reveals that most (over 65%) of shark sightings are observed swimming behind the breakers travelling from one side of the beach to the other, parallel to the shore. Kock says, “This suggests that in most cases sharks are simply swimming past these beaches on their way to another location and we recommend that water users in areas of high shark activity limit the amount of time they spend behind the breakers far away from shore.”
The data has also shown that in the event of a whale stranding shark sightings increase significantly at adjacent beaches and shark sightings may persist for up to a week after the stranding. Therefore, it is highly recommended not to get in the water in areas where there has been a recent whale stranding.
Kyakers and surfskiiers are specifically asked to be cautious of the area between Sunnycove and Glencairn Beaches, and in the corner of Clovelly Beach, as there have been two sightings there within the last few days. Surfers and swimmers are asked to be especially vigilant in the areas between Sunrise Beach and Strandfontein and the Macassar Beach area.
It is advisable to use the ocean in areas where shark spotters are on duty, and to take the time to speak to the shark spotters to find out about recent sightings as well as the visibility conditions, which determine the effectiveness for shark spotting. The shark spotters have a four flag warning system and a siren to communicate shark activity and visibility – learn what the flags mean and stay alert.
Regular shark sightings have become part of the beach experience for many local swimmers and surfers in Cape Town. “This change in attitude from one of fear and panic just a few years back to an attitude adopted by many of acceptance and understanding has been brought about through a combination of research, education and awareness”, says Sarah Titley, project manager of Shark Spotters. Shark spotters are at the frontline of educating the public on shark issues due to their daily interaction with waters users. Titley says “it is important that the spotters are knowledgeable and kept current on shark and ocean related issues”. Over the winter period shark spotters attended a training workshop held at the Save Our Seas Shark Centre in Kalk Bay and received a training manual specially designed for them by Wally Petersen of KEAG. This manual contains information on white shark behaviour and ecology, other shark species found in cape waters and shark bites. This year all the spotters were also given a great opportunity by Africa Shark Eco-Charters to go cage diving and see the sharks from up close.
Shark Spotting Programmes are operational at the following areas:
Summer:
Muizenberg corner: 7 days a week from 8 am to 7 pm
St James: 7 days a week from 8 am to 7 pm
Fish Hoek: 7 days a week from 8 am to 6:45 pm
Noordhoek (The Hoek): 7 days a week from 8 am to 7 pm
Clovelly: Weekends, public & school holidays 8 am to 4 pm
Glencairn: Weekends, public & school holidays 8 am to 7 pm
Winter:
Muizenberg corner: 7 days a week from 8 am to 6 pm
St James: 7 days a week from 8 am to 6 pm
Fish Hoek: 7 days a week from 8 am to 6 pm
Noordhoek (The Hoek): 7 days a week from 8 am to 6 pm
Over the summer holidays Shark Spotting will also be present at Mnandi, Blue Waters, Monwabisi and Strandfontein.
Background information on the Shark Spotters:
The Shark Spotting Programme in Cape Town is a unique project that has attracted both international and local attention because of the novel way it seeks to find a solution to potential conflicts between sharks and people. The program recognizes the importance of implementing environmentally friendly solutions to potential wildlife conflicts. Minimizing contact between sharks and water users is fundamental in preventing erosion of social confidence in the coastline as a safe recreational asset and is critical to the long-term conservation of white sharks in the waters of Cape Town.
Kommetjie Environmental Awareness group (KEAG) manages the programme on behalf of the Non-profit organization. The programme is actively engaged in research on white shark movement patterns, residency and behaviour in False Bay in partnership with the Save Our Seas Shark Centre.
White sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) have been protected in South Africa since 1991 and listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and on Appendix II of the CITES convention.
Scientific evidence collected by the collaborative white shark research project in False Bay has shown that white sharks are present in Cape waters all year round and people should be aware of the small possibility of encountering one of these animals at anytime and should always remain vigilant when using the ocean.
Shark safety tips
· Use the ocean in areas where the shark spotters are on duty
· Talk to the shark spotters every time you visit the beach
· Find out about recent sightings, shark activity, and visibility conditions
· Learn what the four flag warning system and siren means
People are reminded that no safety measure is 100 % effective and that although the Shark Spotting programme has been successful, it itself is not 100% effective and remains vulnerable to human error, weather conditions and water quality issues. The following tips can help reduce the risk of attack even further:
· Do not swim, surf or surfski when birds, dolphins or seals are feeding nearby
· Do not swim, surf or surfski near where trek-netting, fishing or spear fishing is taking place.
· Do not swim in deep water beyond the breakers
· Do not swim if you are bleeding
· Do not swim near river mouths
· Do not swim, surf or surfski at night
· Do not swim, surf or surfski if there has been a cetacean stranding nearby
· If a shark has recently been sighted in an area where no shark spotters are present, consider using another beach for the day
· First time visitors to beach areas should ask the local law enforcement official, life guards or locals about the area
· Obey beach officials if told to leave the water
· For those people kayaking or surfskiing far out to the sea, consider paddling in groups and staying close together (in a diamond shape)
· Consider using a personal shark shield when you go surfing or kayaking
· Pay attention to any shark signage on beaches
For more information on the latest shark sightings and research visit:
www.sharkspotters.org.za
The public are encouraged to report any sightings of White Sharks to the Shark Spotting Programme through their website.
Sharing the Waves with the King of the Sea
by Cheryl-Samantha Owen
Great white sharks are present in the waters off the Cape of South Africa throughout the year, and anyone who uses the Cape’s Atlantic or False Bay waters may possibly encounter one. Surfers, swimmers, divers, snorkelers, kayakers and any other ocean user should remember that they are in white shark territory and keep abreast with white shark news.
A Shark Spotter (Photo: Morne Hardenberg)
Alison Kock, a white shark researcher with the Save Our Seas Foundation (SOSF), is on the sea before first light and spotting great white sharks before dawn. She is dedicating her life to studying the mysteries behind the great white shark and is providing the only source of scientific information on white shark activity and behaviour patterns in Cape Town. Through her research with SOSF Alison has tagged more than 78 white sharks and identified more than 300 since 2003.
Alison has not only challenged the media and the general public’s perceptions about white sharks by showing that they are not mindless man-hunting predators, but the data she has gathered has proven invaluable in notifying ocean users what great whites are up to. White sharks, it appears, have a seasonal inshore - offshore movement pattern, and this knowledge provides some guideline as to where and where not to be in the water in order to minimize chances of bumping into the animal. Though they swim inshore year round, their concentrations peak here from October to December – exactly when the Cape’s beaches are packed. During the winter they are more preoccupied playing cat and mouse with the young of Seal Island’s seal colony. This seasonal change is not unique to False Bay, nor is it recent in its occurrence; similar behaviour occurs in Gansbaai, Mossel Bay and even in California.
Enter the Shark Spotters. While Alison has identified over 300 individuals, the Cape’s shark spotting heroes have documented 530 shark sightings at 11 beaches around Cape Town since the programme started in 2004. Shark sightings recorded by the shark spotters have consistently shown a seasonal peak in shark sightings from August to March, peaking in the Cape’s mid-summer.
Each shark sighting is recorded and entered into a dedicated scientific database. Information collected includes the location, time and duration of the sighting, and the swimming pattern of the shark. “This information is important because it can be used to identify trends in shark presence and behaviour at popular beaches, which can offer new information that can be used to increase safety for water users through minimizing interactions between sharks and people,” says Alison Kock.
Analysis of the shark spotter’s data from the two beaches with the highest number of shark sightings, Muizenburg and Fish Hoek, reveals that most (over 65%) of shark sightings are observed swimming behind the breakers travelling from one side of the beach to the other, parallel to the shore. Kock says, “This suggests that in most cases sharks are simply swimming past these beaches on their way to another location and we recommend that water users in areas of high shark activity limit the amount of time they spend behind the breakers far away from shore.”
The data has also shown that in the event of a whale stranding shark sightings increase significantly at adjacent beaches and shark sightings may persist for up to a week after the stranding. Therefore, it is highly recommended not to get in the water in areas where there has been a recent whale stranding.
Kyakers and surfskiiers are specifically asked to be cautious of the area between Sunnycove and Glencairn Beaches, and in the corner of Clovelly Beach, as there have been two sightings there within the last few days. Surfers and swimmers are asked to be especially vigilant in the areas between Sunrise Beach and Strandfontein and the Macassar Beach area.
It is advisable to use the ocean in areas where shark spotters are on duty, and to take the time to speak to the shark spotters to find out about recent sightings as well as the visibility conditions, which determine the effectiveness for shark spotting. The shark spotters have a four flag warning system and a siren to communicate shark activity and visibility – learn what the flags mean and stay alert.
Regular shark sightings have become part of the beach experience for many local swimmers and surfers in Cape Town. “This change in attitude from one of fear and panic just a few years back to an attitude adopted by many of acceptance and understanding has been brought about through a combination of research, education and awareness”, says Sarah Titley, project manager of Shark Spotters. Shark spotters are at the frontline of educating the public on shark issues due to their daily interaction with waters users. Titley says “it is important that the spotters are knowledgeable and kept current on shark and ocean related issues”. Over the winter period shark spotters attended a training workshop held at the Save Our Seas Shark Centre in Kalk Bay and received a training manual specially designed for them by Wally Petersen of KEAG. This manual contains information on white shark behaviour and ecology, other shark species found in cape waters and shark bites. This year all the spotters were also given a great opportunity by Africa Shark Eco-Charters to go cage diving and see the sharks from up close.
Shark Spotting Programmes are operational at the following areas:
Summer:
Muizenberg corner: 7 days a week from 8 am to 7 pm
St James: 7 days a week from 8 am to 7 pm
Fish Hoek: 7 days a week from 8 am to 6:45 pm
Noordhoek (The Hoek): 7 days a week from 8 am to 7 pm
Clovelly: Weekends, public & school holidays 8 am to 4 pm
Glencairn: Weekends, public & school holidays 8 am to 7 pm
Winter:
Muizenberg corner: 7 days a week from 8 am to 6 pm
St James: 7 days a week from 8 am to 6 pm
Fish Hoek: 7 days a week from 8 am to 6 pm
Noordhoek (The Hoek): 7 days a week from 8 am to 6 pm
Over the summer holidays Shark Spotting will also be present at Mnandi, Blue Waters, Monwabisi and Strandfontein.
Background information on the Shark Spotters:
The Shark Spotting Programme in Cape Town is a unique project that has attracted both international and local attention because of the novel way it seeks to find a solution to potential conflicts between sharks and people. The program recognizes the importance of implementing environmentally friendly solutions to potential wildlife conflicts. Minimizing contact between sharks and water users is fundamental in preventing erosion of social confidence in the coastline as a safe recreational asset and is critical to the long-term conservation of white sharks in the waters of Cape Town.
Kommetjie Environmental Awareness group (KEAG) manages the programme on behalf of the Non-profit organization. The programme is actively engaged in research on white shark movement patterns, residency and behaviour in False Bay in partnership with the Save Our Seas Shark Centre.
White sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) have been protected in South Africa since 1991 and listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and on Appendix II of the CITES convention.
Scientific evidence collected by the collaborative white shark research project in False Bay has shown that white sharks are present in Cape waters all year round and people should be aware of the small possibility of encountering one of these animals at anytime and should always remain vigilant when using the ocean.
Shark safety tips
· Use the ocean in areas where the shark spotters are on duty
· Talk to the shark spotters every time you visit the beach
· Find out about recent sightings, shark activity, and visibility conditions
· Learn what the four flag warning system and siren means
People are reminded that no safety measure is 100 % effective and that although the Shark Spotting programme has been successful, it itself is not 100% effective and remains vulnerable to human error, weather conditions and water quality issues. The following tips can help reduce the risk of attack even further:
· Do not swim, surf or surfski when birds, dolphins or seals are feeding nearby
· Do not swim, surf or surfski near where trek-netting, fishing or spear fishing is taking place.
· Do not swim in deep water beyond the breakers
· Do not swim if you are bleeding
· Do not swim near river mouths
· Do not swim, surf or surfski at night
· Do not swim, surf or surfski if there has been a cetacean stranding nearby
· If a shark has recently been sighted in an area where no shark spotters are present, consider using another beach for the day
· First time visitors to beach areas should ask the local law enforcement official, life guards or locals about the area
· Obey beach officials if told to leave the water
· For those people kayaking or surfskiing far out to the sea, consider paddling in groups and staying close together (in a diamond shape)
· Consider using a personal shark shield when you go surfing or kayaking
· Pay attention to any shark signage on beaches
For more information on the latest shark sightings and research visit:
www.sharkspotters.org.za
The public are encouraged to report any sightings of White Sharks to the Shark Spotting Programme through their website.
| LATEST Great White Shark News: Sharks may be moving inshore earlier this year Typically shark sightings start in late August, but shark spotters have recorded sightings in the last two weeks in Muizenburg, St. James and Clovelly. In addition, white shark research trips over last weekend (15th – 16th August) recorded a significant drop in shark activity at Seal Island. These could be indications of an early move of sharks away from the island to the in-shore areas. |
| For more information on the movements of white sharks and the Shark Spotters read:
Running the Gauntlet, A Cat and Mouse Game at Sea South Africa’s Shark Spotters: Protecting Surfers and Saving Sharks |
| WATCH OUT for more information on how Alison is watching white sharks:
Over the past few months Alison and her team have been attaching crittercams, underwater video cameras designed by National Geographic, in order to gather novel information and a better understanding of shark behaviour. All research feeds directly into the conservation management of this unique and threatened species. |